Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns. CORNISH: Tim Naftali is an associate professor of history at New York University. Rose Mary Woods, President Richard M. Nixon's secretary . In 2006, Jefferson Country Sherriff Ted Mink was told by the courts that he was now allowed to release the remaining footage should he want to, but he ultimately declined to do so, fearing that some troubled youths may be inspired by the recordings. Dylan Klebold sits in a tan La-Z-Boy recliner in Erics basement bedroom, chewing on a toothpick while Eric Harris messes around with the now-stationary video recorder. We are in deep s*** on this deal. You feel responsible? The Nixon White House tapes are audio recordings of conversations between U.S. President Richard Nixon and Nixon administration officials, Nixon family members, and White House staff, produced between 1971 and 1973.. Though, it seems weird to imagine them filming that final shot and then walking somewhere far away to put the camera down. Charlton Heston (left), then president of the NRA, meets with fellow leaders Wayne LaPierre (far right) and Jim Baker (center) on April 30, 1999, ahead of the NRA's annual meeting in Denver. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Ill get shot and die., The remainder of the tape is a description of his Writings of God, and the weapons, bombs and the suicide plan., Eric then films his planning book, calling it the Writings of God. He says his beliefs have changed somewhat during the year, over the course of time hes been writing. Around the same time, leaders discussed how to respond to the shooting at Columbine High School in nearby Littleton, Colo. More than 20 years later, NPR has obtained secret recordings of those conversations. Some one who becomes angry easily . An in-depth transcript of evidence item #265, courtesy of acolumbinesite.com. "The message that it will send is that even the NRA was brought to its knees, and the media will have a field day with it.". All link / image posts require a submission comment to try and start a discussion. "Made that point earlier. Erics also wearing a plaid shirt thats either dark blue or black with white, with a white t-shirt on underneath. Sorry. For now, your post is awaiting approval and will be reviewed by our moderator team as soon as possible! Columbine Tapes. In the aftermath of the shooting, McQueen reasons that "normal" members would stay away from the site of the tragedy leaving only the group's most extreme members as attendees. LaPierre claims that Senate Majority Whip Don Nickles, R-Okla., had secretly asked him for talking points to use after the shooting. Over the next four decades, the Nixon Library and the National Archives released 3,000 hours of tape that it considers in the public interest, holding back the rest for family privacy or national security concerns. Kevin Moloney/Getty Images 4. No Compromise: Inside an extreme corner of the gun debate, Gun rights are back at the Supreme Court for the first time in more than a decade, The NRA is being sued for allegedly breaking campaign finance law to back Republicans. A subreddit focused on constructive discussion to better understand the events that took place surrounding the mass shooting at Columbine High School on April 20th, 1999. On the tape he explains what his motives are and why he and Dylan are doing NBK. Any information I receive regarding this case will be published with source approval and will not be retracted on a whim. columbine shooting, columbine tapes, columbine videos, basement tapes. Members of Congress, one participant says, have asked the NRA to "secretly provide them with talking points. All Rights Reserved. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. He was still awake past 2:00 A.M., three hours before his wake-up call. On April 20th, 1999, two students attending Columbine High School, Eric Harris, and Dylan Klebold, went to their school and killed fourteen students (including themselves) and one teacher, and injured many others. Powered by. [3] All locations in the White House were activated by the Executive Protective Service's "First Family Locator" system: when an officer notified the system that the president was in the Oval Office, the taping machinery switched on, ready to record when triggered by sound. Around the same time, leaders discussed how to respond to the shooting at Columbine High School in nearby Littleton, Colo. More than 20 years later, NPR has obtained secret recordings of those conversations. At the end of the document was a partial transcript of the "Nixon Tape," but only the portion of the interview Eric had with Nixon. If we have a fuc*ing religious war or oil or anything. heheh, I'm trying guys, bear with me), I came across this passage: "Shortly before 11:00 A.M., Eric and Dylan set off with the arsenal[]They left two pipe bombs behind at Eric's house, six at Dylan's. Hey, /u/Alive_Brother_1515! Since said 1999 screening with family members, the unreleased tapes have presumably never been seen by any members of the general public. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Twice a week we compile our most fascinating features and deliver them straight to you. Its so strange to me that people rallied round Dylan, and against Eric the outsider. Would love your thoughts, please comment. "You know, the other problem is holding a member meeting without an exhibit hall. Who is more keenly aware than I am that, from a political standpoint, we should have flushed it down the drain three years ago, blamed Johnson and Kennedy? he asked rhetorically. [1], However, in February 2015, word surfaced that the unreleased tapes had been approved for destruction by Sheriff Ted Mink of Jefferson County, Colorado in 2011. Skip to main content. If we do, its going to hurt us very badly., Prolonging a war for political gain is an abuse of government power, but there was no proof that Nixon had done this until the transcripts became public. This also makes me wonder if Wayne Harris saw the tape on the kitchen table before he made the 911 call or if he even noticed it before the police obtained it. The "Nixon" Tape. Kissinger responded by blaming Nixon, who had conveniently died in 1994. Bloomsbury Publishing 2007.12.26 p.30, Advisory Panel on White House Tapes (1974) page 4, Advisory Panel on White House Tapes (1974) page 11, Advisory Panel on White House Tapes (1974) page 36, Advisory Panel on White House Tapes (1974) page 44, Advisory Panel on White House Tapes (1974) page iv, National Archives and Records Administration, Impeachment process against Richard Nixon, Master list of Nixon's political opponents, Committee for the Re-Election of the President, Presidential Recordings and Materials Preservation Act, "Secret Oval Office Recordings by Roosevelt in '40 Disclosed", "WashingtonPost.com: President Taped Talks, Phone Calls; Lawyer Ties Ehrlichman to Payments", "The Nixon Tapes: Secret Recordings from the White House", "The Untapped Secrets of the Nixon Tapes", "WashingtonPost.com: Court Battle Set as Nixon Defies Subpoenas", "President Refuses to Turn Over Tapes; Ervin Committee, Cox Issue Subpoenas", "WashingtonPost.com: Nixon Forces Firing of Cox; Richardson, Ruckelshaus Quit", "The Crisis: The Secretary and the Tapes Tangle", "Nixon nearly "blew my stack" over Watergate tape gap", "Rose Mary Woods Dies; Loyal Nixon Secretary", "Truth in a Lie: Forty Years After the 18 Minute Gap", "Cracking Watergate's Infamous 18 1/2 Minute Gap", "National Archives Has Given Up On Filling the Nixon Tape Gap", "National Archives Releases Forensic Report on H.R. I did not address the belief that Dylan Klebold placed his jewelry into a pile before committing suicide for two reasons: [1] He did not place his jewelry . Not because guns are responsible, but because we care about these people? LAPIERRE: Do you think they have a preference, Jim? New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. The Basement Tapes (partially found Columbine killers video diary; 1999), Evidence item #265 (One 8mm tape, recorded mid-March 1999), Evidence item #298 (Two 8mm tapes, one recorded April 11th, 1999, one date unknown), Evidence item #333 (One 8mm tape, recorded late March to April 20th, 1999), Lost advertising and interstitial material. Seems like Im probably incorrect? Privacy Policy. And after the 2018 shooting at a high school in Parkland, Fla., the NRA's spokesperson said bluntly, "Many in legacy media love mass shootings.". The content of the tapes was one of the most closely guarded secrets of the Columbine investigation during its first few months right up until the point that Jeffco officials provided . [10] Hundreds of hours are of discussions on foreign policy, including planning for the 1972 Nixon visit to China and subsequent visit to the Soviet Union. Here are some moments. The shooters' parents, as well as many families of the shooters' victims, all supported the suppression and destruction of all the tapes.[2]. Although theres evidence Nixon directed his plumbers to commit crimes and evidence he tried to cover-up his administrations role in the Watergate break-in, no ones ever found concrete evidence proving Nixon ordered the June 1972 break-in at the Watergate. Any thoughts? Harris: We need a fuc*ing kick start. . HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate. 3:42. [3] The recordings were produced on as many as nine Sony TC-800B machines using very thin 0.5 mil (12.7m) tape at the slow speed of 15/16 inches (23mm) per second. [3] According to his Chief of Staff H. R. Haldeman, Nixon ordered the system removed, but during the first two years of his presidency he came to the conclusion (after trying other means) that audio recordings were the only way to ensure a full and faithful account of conversations and decisions. Robert Delfay was the head of an industry trade group. We have created no mythology.. Sheriff Ted Mink chose no. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Goddamn it, get in and get those files. The shooting was dubbed "the Columbine High School massacre" and the implications and impact of the event continue to be discussed . Someone said that the Nixon Tape was found on the kitchen table at Eric Harris' house, is that confirmed and what about the other tapes? The tape then cuts in and out once again, to the two boys on March 18 "in the middle of the night." Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Nixon always suspected former president Lyndon B. Johnson timed the bombing halt to sabotage Nixons election chances. Special Counsel Archibald Cox, a former United States Solicitor General under President John F. Kennedy, asked District Court Judge John Sirica to subpoena nine relevant tapes to confirm the testimony of White House Counsel John Dean. Harris: [eventually] Thats it. Klebold: [interrupts] We did what we had to do. [15], According to President Nixon's secretary Rose Mary Woods, on September 29, 1973, she was reviewing a tape of the June 20, 1972 recordings,[17] when she made "a terrible mistake" during transcription. Shortly afterward, Klebold takes the camera and aims it at Harris, who is now holding the guns. On it, Nixon and H. R. Haldeman are heard formulating a plan to block investigations by having the CIA falsely claim to the FBI that national security was involved. The families of the victims did not want the tapes to be released, but Time magazine was given access to them, albeit without the families okay. An NRA spokesperson called the story a "hit piece" and complained that the NRA was denied the tape. NB: even the Fly CD he played when he was with Susan Dewitt, now Fly where not exactly conducive with Eric's musical taste,but the titke? Does anyone have any thoughts on this? The Columbine shooting in Littleton, Colo., was at the time the deadliest school shooting since the late 1960s, threatening to provide a tragic backdrop to the NRA's previously scheduled annual convention in Denver. very good question! When follower or not, Dylan planned to and did murder people, he turned on everyone he had known his whole life. He can be heard on the recordings obtained by NPR calling some NRA supporters "nuts.". I don't know about you guys, but I somehow have never come across this before. Roche published an article for Times on the tapes on December 20 soon after viewing them, dubbing them the "Basement Tapes". Mario Tama/AFP via Getty Images As such, this tape is not considered a part of the "Basement Tapes" by many people (it has been included here for reference reasons, and due to the fact that it is counted by authorities as part of evidence item #298).[4]. Still, the hypothetical burglary is the only break-in that we know for a fact that Nixon ordered, Hughes says. And as you can see, the final tape was inside the camera, so wherever that was. Parties and banquets were planned even an appearance by a comedian. [30] The panel was subsequently asked by the court to consider alternative explanations that had emerged during the hearings. The Nixon Tape was a voice recording Eric made in the early morning hours of April 20th. [1], In February 1971, a sound-activated taping system was installed in the Oval Office, including in Nixon's Wilson desk, using Sony TC-800B open-reel tape recorders[2] to capture audio transmitted by telephone taps and concealed microphones. In the end though, I doubt we'll ever know what was on it especially in light of Jeffco announcing this past January of having destroyed the Basement Tapes and other Columbine related evidence. These little brown people, so far away, he continued, we dont know them very well, naturally you would say., WATCH: Watergate: The Miniseries on HISTORY Vault. The tapes of the NRA discussions were recorded secretly by a participant and shared on the condition that the participant's name not be divulged. The NRA exists in part to advocate for legislation and, often, to make compromises to see bills pass into law. Images of students running from the school were looped on TV. It wouldnt have been too bad, Nixon guessed. The dilemma they face is apparent in their conversations. "We got a call from Congressman Tancredo, who is as good as they get, and he's nervous as a cat on a hot tin roof," says Baker. Its about a half an hour before our little judgment day. I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Nixons recorded conversations with National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger during that time reveal their clear disrespect for the first (and so far, only) female prime minister of India. For more information, please see our His staff created the impression of warm, sweet and nice to people, reads a lot of books, a philosopher and all that sort of thing. A few lines from it were transcribed, and appear in my book. NPR has taken steps to verify the tapes' authenticity, including by confirming the identities of those speaking on the tapes with two sources and comparing the voices on the calls with publicly available audio. She has generally been straight with me.". wince at the taste. A report from NPR lets us listen in on hours of private NRA meetings held in the wake of the 1999 Columbine . He shot lance kirklin with a shotgun in the face, and was the one that visciously called Eric over to Isaiah and said "is that n****r dead, make sure he's dead". "At that same period where they're going to be burying these children, we're going to be having media trying to run through the exhibit hall, looking at kids fondling firearms, which is going to be a horrible, horrible, horrible juxtaposition," says NRA lobbyist Jim Baker on the conference call. After the 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School: "The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun." "Why us? For instance that's not what Wayne said. The camera then cuts out and back into the two once again driving, revealing that they had just purchased two large fuel containers, as well as three propane bottles. Harris tells Klebold to "say it now," prompting Klebold to begin giving a goodbye message to his friends and family. "For NRA to scrap this and the amount of money that we have spent ". I want you to have that Fly CD. [8] Significant phone lines were tapped as well, including those in the Oval Office, Old Executive Office Building and the Lincoln Sitting Room, which was Nixon's favorite room in the White House. They came to an agreement, with Jefferson County quickly screening the tapes for them, and then putting them in a vault "indefinitely. When hes done Eric moves to sit in another recliner with the bottle of Jack Daniels whiskey, and his sawed-off shotgun named Arlene on his lap. ", Charlton Heston, then the NRA's president, delivered a defiant message at the organization's 1999 meeting: "Why us? Goodbye. All the planning was done,the VHS tapes recorded,the plans set,NBK delayed by a day because of Manes failure to turn up with extra ammunition in time for monday 19th,the original date. This tape begins with footage of Harris and Klebold in Harris' house on March 15, drinking Jack Daniels, and talking about how they hope that the videos that they're making will soon be shown all over the world, once their so-called "masterpiece" had been completed, and when everyone would be looking for answers as to why they committed the massacre. I know my mom and dad will be just like just fucking shocked beyond belief. The camera then cuts to a shot later in the day, where the two are talking about their plan in greater detail, bragging about how many people they are going to kill. In addition to mapping out their national strategy, NRA leaders can also be heard describing the organization's more activist members in surprisingly harsh terms, deriding them as "hillbillies" and "fruitcakes" who might go off script after Columbine and embarrass them. Videos Of Eric and Dylan Before Columbine. Her posture during the demonstration, dubbed the "Rose Mary Stretch", caused many political commentators to question the validity of the explanation. After the leak of the Pentagon Papers in 1971, he became convinced that that leak was part of a conspiracy that was going to leak his own secrets., In response to this conspiracy, Nixon created a counter conspiracy of his own, Hughes continues. Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre is on the line, as is longtime NRA lobbyist Marion Hammer and advertising strategist Angus McQueen, among others. The Nixon Tape and the Clue poster would only tip off their parents, not the investigation. Is it known where exactly the tapes were Cabinet Room Recordings: Tape #s 47 - 129. The ten Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee who had voted against impeachment in committee announced that they would now vote for impeachment once the matter reached the House floor. It's at once hard to imagine this took place but can be. Because their story needs a villain. The tape then stops once more, before cutting back to a closeup of Harris' face; he is now alone and begins to talk about his family, apologizing for the agony that he knew the coming events would put them through and telling them that it was not their fault. "You have to go forward," she says. It has not been released. The Basement Tapes were filmed by the murderous architects of the Columbine Massacre.